Munster hit by further injury setbacks while scrum-half options restocked due to Six Nations and surgery blow

Adam Kyriacou 30 Jan 2024 10:15 AM

John Hodnett for Munster against Northampton Saints.

Munster will be without United Rugby Championship (URC) final hero John Hodnett for up to 10 weeks after the club confirmed he has had surgery on a finger injury.

The flanker, who scored the match-winning try in the showpiece game against the Stormers in Cape Town last year, has been given an eight to 10 week timeframe.

Hodnett’s absence will come as a setback not only for this weekend’s clash with Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders but also their upcoming URC games.

Crusaders clash

Munster are currently preparing for that game against the New Zealanders, which will take place in front of a capacity crowd of 40,885 fans at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Compounding the Hodnett update is news that scrum-half Paddy Patterson will have knee surgery next week and is expected to return at the start of next season.

Furthermore, the experienced Simon Zebo underwent an MRI on a knee injury last week and will see a specialist next week for review so he is out this weekend.

Some positive news from the squad sees a possible return to action for full-back Mike Haley as he’s back in full training this week following a long-term hip issue.

Meanwhile, in-form lock or back-row Tom Ahern is following the return to play protocols and his availability for Saturday will be determined later in the week.

The reigning United Rugby Championship champions will be able to call on Cian Hurley (ankle/Achilles) in the coming weeks as he increases his training load.

However, Jack O’Donoghue (knee), Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Jean Kleyn (eye/knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), RG Snyman (chest/shoulder), Roman Salanoa (knee) continue their rehabilitation and Munster will be desperate to have a clean bill of health for the season run-in in the upcoming months.

Scrum-half deals

With Conor Murray and Craig Casey in camp with Ireland for the Six Nations and Patterson injured, the club has locked in two number nines on short-term deals.

Neil Cronin has put pen to paper on a two-month contract extension that will keep him at the province until the end of March. He’s made 38 appearances to date.

Additionally, 20-year-old UCC scrum-half Andrew O’Mahony arrives on a two-month deal. He played for Munster A against Connacht Eagles earlier this season.

Munster